Mr Grumpy stays ashore - QE2 Transatlantic January 2006

Some of you may have met my old friend Mr Grumpy, who came on my QM2 Transatlantic last April, and had quite a lot to comment about (and who would appear to have snuck onboard the QM2 as she currently makes her way down to Rio...). Well, the 'headline' for this trip on the QE2 says it all.....he tried to make it to Southampton, but somehow never got onboard.....and his friend Mr Nitpicker was heard from but infrequently too......

 

I shall post this in installments, mainly for fear of the board crashing and me loosing the lot......

 

London to Southampton

T'other half, being a fan of big modern ships (QM2, Brilliance of the Seas) and not a fan of 'old ladies' had decided to visit friends in New York, where we would meet up after my Transatlantic, thus eschewing the QE2....so an old friend, Jon (he prefers 'longstanding'...) agreed to another QE2 crossing. We met at Waterloo, and appropriately fortified with sandwiches from M&S, and the best part of a bottle of Widow's unction (New Year's Eve: 'Lets open the champagne' - 'We'll never finish it' - we didn't) boarded our train - towards the front - its generally near the ticket barrier in Southampton if there is a rush for taxis. There is something wonderfully decadent about champagne and bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast....so we pitched up at the front of the Taxi queue in Southampton, in a suitably beatific frame of mind.

 

Boarding

There appear to be two sorts of people with luggage - those who queued to check it in, and those, like us, who simply handed it over to the porter. Why, I don't know - perhaps the people in the luggage check in queue liked queuing - well, they'd certainly get enough of that! We then joined the check in queue. Many on this crossing had been upgraded - we'd gone all the way from a C6 (two cabins) to a C5 (many dozens), unlike others who got from M6 to C5.....so I'd called Cunard a couple of times to make sure they knew about my past voyages ('frequent cruiser' sounds like something one might hear in the Magistrates Courts....), and they said 'Oh yes, we've got your Platinum status on your booking......I thought it rude to argue.....so when one of the ladies in Southampton asked if there were any 'Grill Passengers or Platinum Members', I said 'I'm not entirely sure, its been quite a few crossings since I got Gold'.....and she said 'Oh you look like platinum to me' - so we joined the lovely short queue - all the better to wave at our friends in the long queue.......In the terminal there was a bit of a wait, before our Purple (I assume, again 'Platinum') boarding card was called after the Grills, and we boarded the ship quite promptly.......

 

Cabin

All previous voyages on the QE2 had been in Mauretania, so this time we decided to treat ourselves to Caronia, to see whether the difference was 'worth it'. I will discuss the restaurants and food separately. The cabin was basically a slightly bigger version of previous Mauretania cabins I'd had - and as it was on Deck 4 had originally been designed as interchangeable between Tourist and Cabin Class on a three class ship. It was 'beds by the porthole', rather than 'porthole down a corridor' configuration, and connected with the adjacent cabin. This was one with 'sofa by the porthole' - so when its occupants were having a gossip, snatches of conversation were audible. We got round this by having loud alarming conversations so they might know they could be heard 'Pass me the Whip!' and 'Take the spurs off or you'll rip the sheets'....and it didn't really bother us. There was plenty of wardrobe space and a tiny bathroom. It also had a fridge, which I gather is unusual. It was fine, but basically was a 'big' Mauretania cabin.

 

To be continued.......

 

Peter

 

Peter, waiting with interest, bated breath and a big smile for the rest of your report

cunardqueen;)

Well, I guess now that you've started your review, I'm going to have to start moving a bit faster on mine! Perhaps by the time you finish posting yours, I can start posting mine ;) ...

 

I don't think the fridge in your cabin was at all unusual - as I recall, the only C grade cabin I saw that didn't have a fridge was mine (4143). That's fine with me as we don't use a fridge on a ship anyway and they tend to take up space that could be better used for something else... But I thought it was odd that we didn't have one.

 

Anyhow, looking forward to the rest of your review. It was a pleasure sailing with you and I'm sorry we didn't get to spend more time together!

Glad to see that the Jan. 3 crossing reviews are still trickling in. I thought perhaps I had missed Host Doug's review. Looking forward to reading all of them.

Peter, thanks for the first installment. Looking forward to the full review. Paul

I thought perhaps I had missed Host Doug's review.

Don't worry, you didn't miss anything!

 

My reviews always take a while - they are long. If you want something to keep you busy in the meantime, just send me an e-mail (shiploverny at yahoo dot com) and I'll send you a copy of my review of ROTTERDAM this past August... 40,363 words, 434 paragraphs, 72 pages (12 pt font, single-spaced)...

 

The QE2 review won't be nearly as long as there are of course no ports to talk about! It still won't be short though...

Peter

 

I have been searching for your review on the QM2. I read it when it was first posted and can't find it now - can you remember the date you posted it?

 

Looking forward to reading more of your crossing on QEII.

 

Lyn

Peter

 

I have been searching for your review on the QM2. I read it when it was first posted and can't find it now - can you remember the date you posted it?

 

Looking forward to reading more of your crossing on QEII.

 

Lyn

 

Lyn,

 

Mr Grumpy's first outing can be found here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=171152

 

However Grumpy he got, he certainly did not think of with-holding tips from the waitstaff, (see QM2 mutiny thread) Grumpy maybe, Mean & Nasty - no!

 

Peter

Peter

 

Thanks for that, I'm off to reread it. Didn't think, for one minute, that Mr Grumpy would turn into Mr Mean & Nasty.

 

Lyn

Peter

 

I have re-read the exploits of Mr (sometimes) Grumpy on QM2. I love the style in which it is written.

 

Avidly waiting for the next report on QE11

 

Lyn

Lyn,

 

Thanks for your kind words - though reading through what follows, you may fear Mr Grumpy has been replaced by Dr Pangloss!

 

First Impressions

Embarking via the Midships Lobby - the original First Class entrance, we are greeted by two young ladies with lovely English accents - that is - British English, rather than Global English. I have nothing at all against the globalisation of English - in fact many non-native English speakers speak more clearly than native speakers. But on a line marketed as 'British', to have the first greeting onboard sound 'British' helps set the tone - and is in contrast to the QM2, where we were met by nearly every variety of English, except British. Round 1 to the QE2. There are many Stewards standing in line ready to escort passengers to cabins (again, better organised than the QM2, which was a general scrum, Round 2 to the QE2), but as this is my fourth crossing I want to make sure I can still find my way around - I can. After checking complimentary sparkling wine in the cabin (French, and pretty good) its up to the Dining Room to check table assignment and on to Afternoon Tea. I'll discuss those in more detail shortly, but first, 'First Impressions'.

 

Much has been written on these boards about the 'Decline of Cunard', its 'Carnivalisation' or 'Princessification' and how things were so much better in the 'old days' (time unspecified). To paraphrase Hedda Hopper (the Hearst columnist who's pieces on Movie Premieres almost always included some reference to his mistress Marion Davies, along the lines of 'Marion never looked lovelier', so the standing joke in Hollywood was that if the San Andreas fault gave, Hopper's headline would have been 'Hollywood slides into the Sea. Marion never looked Lovelier', but I digress...), in my view, the QE2 (in recent history) has never looked lovelier. I guess its really simple - who is going to be better at running ships - you have a choice of one out of three; A Property Company, An Engineering Company, or a Shipping Company. From 1971, when Trafalgar (property) took over, the ship had not been owned by a shipping company until Carnival took over in 1998. And as I read on the crossing, in Potter & Frost's 'QE2' (which, being a contemporary account has I believe the most accurate discussion of whether the QE2 is named after the QE or HM QEII - its the latter) the Cunard which sold to Trafalgar in 1971 had been little short of a basket case for some time. So, funnily enough, I reckon a shipping company knows more about running ships than a property or engineering one. Maybe its a bloke thing, but several people said they preferred the new carpets - oops! - I don't notice things like new carpets - or other 'new' things, which gets me into trouble from time to time, but lets not go there.....What I did notice was that the general fit & finish was looking pretty good. Yes, there was the (very) occassional bit of worn upholstery, but for a ship of any age I would say the QE2 is looking pretty good - and for a 36 year old ship, little short of miraculous. In fact the 'tiredest' ship I've sailed on in recent years was the then three year old Golden Princess. So, in my experience, the QE2 has 'never looked lovelier'. How she would look in her original 60s decor is another matter....we can but dream....

 

Afternoon Tea

After the multiple disappointments of Afternoon Tea on the QM2 (moveable feast, times always different, sandwiches old, cream scones had seen neither a cow nor a berry, service indifferent at best, tea warm or stewed) I approached afternoon tea on the QE2 with some trepidation - would this be proof that Princess were indeed 'ruining' Cunard? I need not have worried. Indeed, the service seemed better than the last time I was on QE2. We arrived early to get a table, and from our vantage point watched the theatre unfold. The wait staff line up in front of the buffet, then fan out throughout the room to take orders for tea or coffee. This is served, then sandwiches follow - lovely and fresh - with spongey soft white, brown or wholemeal bread - none of this 'made this morning crust' as on the QM2, followed by cakes. I fear the days of Noro-virus have put the pots of jam, butter and cream 'do-it-yourself' scones behind us, but at least the prepared ones had cream that had come from a cow and jam that had come from a berry. We had seconds. Twice. Round 3 to the QE2.....

 

Caronia Dining Room

In the past I have sailed in Mauretania, so thought it would be a treat to see whether the Caronia dining room offered a substantially different experience. As I entered the assistant Maitre D' eyed me nervously and was almost surprised when I announced that I was happy with my table - by a window, starboard. This was a table for two, with another table for two slightly inboard of us - and on our last day I saw how they dropped a board over both to turn them into a table for six. In contrast to the light woods of the Mauretania, Caronia is in dark wood - and to be frank, reminded me of 'International Hotel Anywhere' style. Another quibble - the lighting at dinner on occassion I found very bright - more like 'Pub at chucking out time' than 'intimate dining venue'. I mentioned this to the Assistant Maitre D', and he said he would see what could be done. Not sure anything was...Service was good, but not outstanding - and I've had better (and worse) service in Mauretania. A little too much reaching in front rather than 'serve from the right, clear from the left', however, it did appear slightly faster than Mauretania, and in a different league to the QM2's Britannia. Food was in general very good - the soups consistently excellent, and all meals were taken there. Nice touches included British preserves - including marmalade - and in small jars too, not pealable plastic packs from California, as on a well known newer larger ship I could mention......Round, oh I give up counting....you get the general idea.....

 

Topics to follow will include news on the Queen Victoria, my view on the Captain, the Cabin Cavalcade and various parties.....

 

Peter

Peter

 

He seems to be keeping a very low profile but I think he just about put in an appearance in the restaurant. Quite relieved to see him in a way, nothing's perfect is it.

 

Have you any idea why British marmalade and jam is available on the QE11 and not the QM2 - this baffles me

 

Lyn

Peter

 

He seems to be keeping a very low profile but I think he just about put in an appearance in the restaurant. Quite relieved to see him in a way, nothing's perfect is it.

 

Have you any idea why British marmalade and jam is available on the QE11 and not the QM2 - this baffles me

 

Lyn

It may vary depending on where the stores were taken on. For instance, if they stocked in NYC, they likely stocked from a provisioning company there, not from a British one.

And of course, the fact that you are sailing out of Southampton doesn't mean the stores weren't taken on last time in New York. I'm sure they don't throw out or stow what's left and bring in the new!

No proof of this, just my guess.

Karie

Great review, BTW I am really enjoying ALL of the mutiple personalities reporting!

Enjoying your review Peter. I too am glad to that we are hearing at least a little something from Mr. Nitpick, otherwise I'd think you've gone soft ;) ...

Service was good, but not outstanding - and I've had better (and worse) service in Mauretania ... however, it did appear slightly faster than Mauretania, and in a different league to the QM2's Britannia.

Peter,

 

Thanks for the installments. Can you elaborate on how service was in a different league from QM2's? I had great lunch and dinner service on QM2 in Britannia, but never had the opportunity to sail on QE2 (we were once booked for a transatlantic in Caronia class years ago but had to cancel ... which resulted in a surpisingly odd event on that particular voyage). Just curious if you see a fundamental different approach to dining service between the two ships, or whether you may have just lucked out with better service one time over another between Caronia, Mauretania, and Britannia.

 

Paul

I've been enjoying your review, Peter. I suspect that differences in service between dining venues are less than between individual tables, depending upon the waitstaff. On the December '04 crossing, service in the Caronia was superb (could sitting at the Captain's table have been a factor?...), while on this year's crossing, once again in Caronia, the "service" was nothing short of atrocious. I agree also that the QE2 never looked better, albeit with some signs of wear (on wood surfaces, for instance) which is to be expected.

 

Paul (also from NH)

I agree also that the QE2 never looked better, albeit with some signs of wear (on wood surfaces, for instance) which is to be expected.

 

Paul (also from NH)

 

 

Paul (from NH)

Don't drop a bomb like "which resulted in a surprisingly odd event on that particular voyage" and then just walk off, smiling! Out with it, boy!

 

And Paul (also from NH)

Those signs of wear on the wood surfaces? In New England (as you know) where our antiques are Europe's "new stuff" that is clled "Patina!"

It's all in how you spin it!

 

(On Carnival it would be called "NEON") <EG>

 

Karie,

who much prefers patina.

Paul (from NH)

Don't drop a bomb like "which resulted in a surprisingly odd event on that particular voyage" and then just walk off, smiling! Out with it, boy!

I was a scheduled speaker on a crossing (I think it was in 1999). A family member then was diagnosed with a fast-moving terminal illness, so I canceled the crossing about 3 months prior to the sailing. Months later during the actual sailing date, the office that represents me received an email from onboard QE2 asking if they knew where I was, because I had not shown up for my appearance, and that a large audience had been seated and had waited to hear me speak! Apparently I was still listed on the bulletin of events, and passengers had shown up for the "event." I was pretty horrified to learn all this. Some time after that, I was at a Titanic Historical Society Convention and two people came up to me to say they were on that trip and they confirmed that there had in fact been a large auidence seated and waiting for me to appear! Finally someone came out on the stage and apoligized that I did not show and that they did not know where I was. Is that not bizarre? I still have trouble believing something like that could happen.

 

Peter, sorry to insert this strange story in the middle of your QE2 review. Looking forward to more installments.

 

Paul

I was a scheduled speaker on a crossing (I think it was in 1999). A family member then was diagnosed with a fast-moving terminal illness, so I canceled the crossing about 3 months prior to the sailing. at a Titanic Historical Society Convention and two people came up to me to say they were on that trip and they confirmed that there had in fact been a large auidence seated and waiting for me to appear!

 

Paul

 

Paul.

I am so very sorry about your loss. I did not mean to bring back sad memories. Well, many have said that Cunard's administrative arm simply does not have it together! They were insisting a week before our Jan 3 on the QM2 that John Maxtone Graham was going to be there, when I told them someone in our group had emailed him personally and he replied he would not, he would be on the QE2 crossing on that date! <sigh>

 

BTW, the Commodore recently gave me a copy of a very interesting (and shocking) "open letter to Robert Ballard" published in the Journal of the British Titanic Society. Are you familiar with the letter and the issues presented? This is a particular passion of Commodore Warwick's. Living here in CT so close to Mystic (and Wood's Hole) I was shocked. A lot of bad feelings and grandstanding going around in regard to the real details of discovery of the wreck of the Titanic. B/C me if you wish to know more-though if you are an afficianado, you are probaby already aware of the controversy. British Titanic Society does not have a web site.My email is parrothead-av8r AT mindspring DOT com. (You know the drill!)

Thanks for sharing your odd anecdote!

 

Karie

Very entertaining Peter! I look forward to the next installment.

 

Ernie

Guernseyguy:

Reading your posts with interest, new to board. My granddad came to Canada in the 20's. I grew up hearing stories of the old country. I hope to visit Guernsey in the future.:)

Can you elaborate on how service was in a different league from QM2's? I had great lunch and dinner service on QM2 in Britannia. Just curious if you see a fundamental different approach to dining service between the two ships, or whether you may have just lucked out with better service one time over another between Caronia, Mauretania, and Britannia.

 

Paul,

 

In both Mauretania and Caronia the dining experience is like that of being in a 'well-oiled machine' - things come promptly, when they are supposed to, and wine on the wine list is available. I never felt the Britannia Restaurant on the QM2 was 'well oiled' - staffed by enthusiastic and energetic wait staff, charging around, but things not infrequently took longer than they should - 10-15 minutes for cereal at breakfast, or arrived way too late - wine arriving as main course is finished.....now this voyage was after she had been in service for over a year.......

 

Peter

Queen Victoria

I know many are curious for news about the Queen Vic, so I thought I'd get this out of the way quickly. At the Cunard World Club party (see below) Captain Rynd mentioned that he had seen some design work that is being done for the Queen Victoria. He said he thought it was going to be a very beautiful ship, with design elements harking back to the Mauretania and Aquitania, and a gallery based on a Collonade at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.....Later, at the Officers Party I asked him 'how fast will she be' and he said 'oh, 22 - 23 knots'. So, no express liner she! Subsequent conversation with other passengers had a range of reactions, a not uncommon one being the 'Disneyfication of Cunard'. Mr Nitpicker, who has been hovering in the wings, would once again like to point out that if the interior design is going to be a parade of pastiche, then AQUITANIA would be a more suitable name, as ALL the Queen liners, as built, have aimed at being modern and contemporary.....but I guess 'Heritage' is now being burned into Cunard's DNA. Come to think of it, the Aquitania could do more than 22 knots.....but thats progress for you!

 

Captain Rynd

A while back on these boards, some posters (who have since fallen silent) made some rather uncomplimentary remarks about putting Princess Captains on Cunard ships - conveniently ignoring that Princess was owned by P&O, an even older British company than Cunard. I formed several impressions of Captain Rynd, all of them favourable. First, I suspect he runs a pretty tight ship. The crew drill he ran went on for MUCH longer than any previous drill I had seen on ANY Cunard ship - even on Caronia, which like the QE2 was facing US Coastguard inspections after a while away from the US. He also stuck to a daily routine of announcements about the weather - at 9am, then position report at noon - delivered by himself, or by the senior officer on the bridge at the time. One morning, the announcemt came at around 9.03 - from the Captain - who said 'Since you probably missed the 9 o'clock announcement, here's today's weather and conditions' - translated as 'Since the Senior Officer of the watch has forgotten to make the announcement I will do it myself' - you could practically hear someone being spanked on the bridge in the background! I doubt they will do that again! Second, he struck me as very personable, frequently to be seen walking around the ship, chatting with passengers, (including once, to me as I was enjoying the jacussi!) and even letting one of them buy him a drink - which I'm sure they will dine out on for years to come! Crew members I mentioned him to also had a favourable impression. Net, I would be VERY happy to sail with Captain Rynd again.

 

The Cabin Cavalcade

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the voyage was the cavalcade of cabins, first suggested on this board and eventually congregating in the Midships Lobby one afternoon. I won't spare (Host) Doug's blushes by repeating the deserved praise heaped on him for organising the assembled motley crew into a remarkably disciplined bunch, that had worked out by the third cabin that people in the immediately following cabins, really should get in and out first, so their cabin was ready for inspection - once we had that figured it all went remarkably smoothly. Others more assiduous than I videoed and noted the number of cabins visited, their grades and so on - but in a ship that has one of the last 'not a cookie cutter' cabin layout and designs, then this sort of thing should be repeated on EVERY voyage - only then do you get to see the HUGE range of different cabins - many within the same grade. We rose from 5th deck to 1 deck, seeing cabins in each of the classes - with Princess Grill and above looking particularly fine. The only category we did not see were the Rabbit Hutches, but as Mr Nitpicker observed as these are not original most of us managed to contain our disappointment. Another delight in this session was people had brought along old deck plans and brochures to play 'spot the difference'. A thoroughly good time was had by all. And after that a quick sprint up to the Queen's Room where afternoon tea was still being served.....

 

World Club and Senior Officer's Party

As expected, I received my invitation to the World Club party, but in a pleasant surprise was also invited to the Senior Officer's party - who gets picked for this and how I know not. The web site says that Platinum members (which I'd just received a trenches promotion to) are invited - but then my travelling companion who was also invited hasn't struck gold yet....and other Platinum members weren't invited. The World Club party as usual was held before lunch, possibly in the misplaced hope that this will discourage us from drinking so much.....The hostess tried her best to make us feel really exclusive by announcing that the World Club 'now has more than a million members'......and on this crossing more platinum than gold......The Senior Officer's party, being held in the evening was even more convivial....and I got chatting to two senior officers. The first, a senior hotel officer, discussed the galley refurbishments that are going to take place in the upcoming refit - this will involve cutting a hole in the side of the ship so old equipment can be removed and replaced by new - so it certainly looks as though Carnival are thinking long term for the QE2. The second officer I spoke with was a senior deck officer - he seemed (appropriately) business focussed in the sense that he knew how much the extra 400 miles we would sail on this crossing to avoid bad weather would cost and was also conversant with how the Carnival stock price was doing - nothing like aligning the needs of the employees with the business and vice versa. All in all a fascinating evening......

 

More to come....'Things naughty people do', 'Favourite spots on QE2', 'New York - MANHATTAN' and 'Disembarkation'.

 

Peter

Captain Rynd

A while back on these boards, some posters (who have since fallen silent) made some rather uncomplimentary remarks about putting Princess Captains on Cunard ships - conveniently ignoring that Princess was owned by P&O, an even older British company than Cunard. I formed several impressions of Captain Rynd, all of them favourable. First, I suspect he runs a pretty tight ship. The crew drill he ran went on for MUCH longer than any previous drill I had seen on ANY Cunard ship - even on Caronia, which like the QE2 was facing US Coastguard inspections after a while away from the US. He also stuck to a daily routine of announcements about the weather - at 9am, then position report at noon - delivered by himself, or by the senior officer on the bridge at the time. One morning, the announcemt came at around 9.03 - from the Captain - who said 'Since you probably missed the 9 o'clock announcement, here's today's weather and conditions' - translated as 'Since the Senior Officer of the watch has forgotten to make the announcement I will do it myself' - you could practically hear someone being spanked on the bridge in the background! I doubt they will do that again! Second, he struck me as very personable, frequently to be seen walking around the ship, chatting with passengers, (including once, to me as I was enjoying the jacussi!) and even letting one of them buy him a drink - which I'm sure they will dine out on for years to come! Crew members I mentioned him to also had a favourable impression. Net, I would be VERY happy to sail with Captain Rynd again.

 

 

Peter

 

Your remarks about Captain Rynd ring pretty true to me, but I do wonder about the decision to avoid the mid-Atlantic depression. Some (many?) of us look forward to being on the winter crossing precisely because of the possibility of turbulent seas. The decision to steer a course via the Azores was clearly made to avoid discomfort to many of the world cruisers at the expense of the WCC. Where once we might have booked this crossing awaiting whatever the North Atlantic might throw at us (and it hasn't always been rough by any means), in future we may hesitate knowing that the Captain might decide to take a southerly route. Just another example of how a crossing is becoming more cruise-like even if it is still a liner voyage.

 

I've enjoyed your comments, Peter, and look forward to the final installment.

 

Paul (the other New Hampshire person!)

The decision to steer a course via the Azores was clearly made to avoid discomfort to many of the world cruisers at the expense of the WCC.

 

Paul,

 

I thought that the likeliest explanation too - especially as that decision did not come cheap - though I wonder if it 'paid-out' - through higher on-board consumption at the Bars!

 

Peter